The True Lady Strikes Back novel (Cecilia and Christopher)

Chapter 176

Blake tried to resist, but his strength seemed to drain away, leaving him powerless to fight back.

He watched as the needle pierced his neck, and a transparent liquid coursed into his veins.

Soon, his vision blurred, and it felt as if a giant clock were striking inside his head, causing excruciating

headaches.

Cecilia observed Blake’s suffering and promptly retrieved a silver needle, which Matthias had provided

to counteract the truth serum’s side effects. After about three minutes, Blake’s torment subsided,

leaving his eyes. vacant, as though his soul had departed.

Cecilia then knew the truth serum had done its job, but extracting information from him still depended

on Blake’s willingness to divulge it. “What’s your name? Why are you in Quilton?”

Cecilia began with two straightforward questions that wouldn’t compromise the organization’s secrets.

Blake’s answers came quickly.

“I’m Blake. I’m in Quilton to apprehend Cecilia.”

“Who told you to come? How are you planning to apprehend Cecilia?”

Blake, acutely aware of the sensitive nature of this information about his superior, put up a fierce

struggle, clenching his teeth and attempting to resist the potent effects of the truth serum.

Cecilia maintained her cold and unwavering gaze, pondering whether Blake’s loyalty would ultimately

succumb to the effectiveness of the truth

serum.

In the midst of his resistance, blood soon began to trickle from his damaged gums, a result of his

relentless biting.

Just when it appeared that he might not reveal anything, Blake, with immense effort, managed to utter

a word.

“John.”

These words were followed by a burst of blood, and he lost.

consciousness.

Christopher, observing Blake in this dire state, nudged him with his foot, recognizing that they had likely

exhausted the information they could extract from him.

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Nonetheless, obtaining the name “John” had made the endeavor worthwhile.

“Ceci, do you still want to ask?”

Cecilia shook her head and said, “If I use another tube of truth serum, he will die. Let’s go.”

After leaving the basement, Christopher noticed that there was still some time to spare, so he took

Cecilia to a high–end auction.

Upon entering, they coincidentally found that a lake–view villa belonging to Jayden was being

auctioned.

Jayden had gone to great lengths to secure the villa, making use of his extensive connections.

It was a property he particularly favored and intended to inhabit during his leisure time.

However, as it was now put up for auction, many attendees took the opportunity to mock him.

“Mr. Yancey, it appears you might be short on funds. Out of the kindness. of our past acquaintance, I

would like to raise my bidding card. It would be quite awkward if no one else does,” one of the

attendees taunted Jayden.

In the past, Jayden had been consistently arrogant when dealing with him, and now was a chance for

him to turn the tables.

Jayden put on a fake smile while concealing his inner frustration.

The auction price for the lake–view villa was set at 30% below its market value, buying the villa would

only benefit the man.

Had Fiona not completed her part of the plan and if Christopher hadn’t applied pressure on the Yancey

family, he would never have resorted to auctioning the villa at a discounted rate to meet the terms of

the liquidated damages.

Nevertheless, it appeared that no one was interested in bidding for the villa except for one oblivious

individual who dared to raise his bidding

card.

All eyes were on the bidder with a mix of pity and curiosity.

The man who had previously been arrogant in front of Jayden was growing uneasy.

He asked Jayden, “Why is everyone looking at me? What’s with the

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strange looks?”

He had recently returned to town and was unaware of the trouble he had

stirred up.

Naturally, Jayden had no intention of enlightening him. He simply wanted to complete the auction and

depart.

Since only one person raised a bidding card, he acquired Jayden’s lake–view villa at a significantly

reduced price.

Christopher, seated at the back, glared coldly at the bidder’s head. The man suddenly felt a chilling

sensation at the nape of his neck, causing his hairs to stand on end.

He instinctively rubbed his neck to dispel the eerie feeling.

The following item up for auction was Jeremiah’s recording studio, offered at 30% below the market

price, yet no one seemed interested. Cecilia had shown little interest in the auctions until her antiques

were up for bidding.

By the end of the auction, she had earned an estimated sum exceeding 75,000.

Jeremiah, who hadn’t sold anything, left before Jayden.

However, he couldn’t help but notice Cecilia sitting in the last row, and his usually expressionless face

turned notably grim.

“You’ve already taken control of the Yancey Corporation. What more do you want?”

Cecilia was seated, yet the subtle movement of her raising her head had an overwhelming effect on

Jeremiah.

“I acquired the Yancey Corporation on my own merit, so don’t insinuate that you gave it to me. My goal

is to expel the Yancey family from the high–society circles in Quilton, leaving you with no ground to

stand on.”

“Aren’t you worried about getting stabbed in the back?”

“You tormentors have nothing to fear. As the victim, I have no reason to be scared.”

Jeremiah struggled to control himself; he wanted to lash out at Cecilia. “What do you want us to do for

you to let us off?” Jeremiah finally asked, desperation in his voice.

He didn’t want his cherished career to crumble, he didn’t want to pay

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liquidated damages, and most of all, he didn’t want to lose everything. “You’ve never shown me any

mercy, and I won’t show any to you.” Cecilia stood up, patted Jeremiah on the shoulder, and walked

away, saying, “Enjoy your tough days ahead.”

With that, Cecilia departed alongside Christopher.

The Yancey family wasn’t worth her time.

Jeremiah’s frustration was evident as he kicked over the chair in front of him.

Jayden, who had acquired some money in the auction, came out from the backstage area and saw

what was going on.

“Jerry, what’s wrong?”

“I met a jinx and I’m very displeased!”

Jeremiah referred to Cecilia as a “jinx,” which immediately clued Jayden in.

He remembered how Cecilia had thwarted his plans to meet Fiona and felt a surge of anger.

“Juliana is a menace, and it seems Cecilia is no better. Did our family wrong them in a past life or

something?”

“I suspect we must’ve wronged their ancestors for eighteen generations for them to come after us in

this lifetime!”

Jeremiah repeated Cecilia’s words as soon as he finished venting his frustrations.

“She’s determined not to let us go. We must find a way out.”

Jayden attempted to reassure his brother. “When I take down Fiona, everything will be all right. Let’s

go. The money from selling the Lakeview Villa is just enough to cover our liquidated damages.”

“That’s enough for today. What about tomorrow? Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Without addressing the root issue, the liquidated damages would continue to be a bottomless pit. They

had too many contracts weighing them down.

Jayden remained confident, believing he could win Fiona over.

“Let’s not worry about tomorrow.”

Soon after the two siblings departed, the man who had purchased the lake–view villa emerged from the

backstage, wearing a despondent

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expression.

It was over for him.

He was in serious trouble!

Would he be able to survive after going against Christopher?

Certainly!

But his family would be financially ruined, and they’d have no place in Quilton anymore.

Christopher had already targeted his father’s company.

Cecilia raised her eyebrows and quipped, “From what I’ve heard, you’ve taken down several major

corporations. If this keeps up, will Quilton’s economy collapse thanks to you?”

She knew it was unlikely that the city’s economy would truly collapse, as the companies didn’t vanish

but rather changed ownership.

Her comment was a playful jab at Christopher’s uncompromising approach.

He had a reputation for ruthlessness in dealing with those he disliked. Christopher twirled a strand of

Cecilia’s hair around his index finger.

“Ceci, I won’t spare anyone who dares to offend you.”

Cecilia noted Christopher’s seriousness and requested, “Let the Zabel family off.”

Her concern wasn’t for Kenton, given his unsavory history, but rather for Elaine and her friend, the oil

painting artist, Esther.

Christopher didn’t inquire further. He simply agreed, saying, “Okay.”

His aim had been to create trouble for Kenton’s family rather than harm. the rest of the Zabel family.

“Ceci, I have the damaging information on Jayden that you requested. I’ll send it to you now.”